Blindness

What (to be) _____ blindness?

Some people (to bear) _______________ with a visual impairment. A person who (to be) ______ blind (to have) _________ a high degree of vision loss. Only about 18 per cent of blind people (to be) _____ totally blind - most can(to distinguish) ______________ between light and dark.

When someone (to be) _____ partially sighted, they (to have) ____________ a less severe loss of vision. Partially sighted people can (to see) _____________ more than blind people but less than sighted people.

Blindness can (to cause) _____________ difficulty with performing everyday tasks

Blindness can (to cause) _______________ difficulty with performing everyday tasks such as cooking, dressing, reading and writing. When outside shopping or going for a walk, blindness can (to create) __________________ problems.

The risk of physical and social isolation (to be) ______ greater for those who (to be) ______ blind or partially-sighted as it can (to be) ______harder for them to get out and make new friends than it (to be) _____for people who (to be) _____ fully sighted. Blindness can also (to be) ______ an expensive condition because of, for example, the costs of special equipment.

What _______the causes (to be)?

Accidents and disease (to be) _______ often responsible for blindness while some people (to bear) ________________ blind or partially sighted. Common causes (to include) __________ age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Having an eye test at least every two years can (to help) ____________ to detect problems that may (to need) _______________ treatment.

It (to be) _____ important to wear protective eyewear in situations where accidental eye damage may (to occur) _________________, for example, at work, when playing sport. Some conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts, can (to treat) ________________to help preserve vision.